The Great Circle Multiverse, Prime Material Plane, Noah Continent.
Buzz! The grand, boundless figure enveloped Noah Continent entirely, influencing many primary material worlds across the river of time. The time dragon folded its wings, and its embodiment of time collapsed, transforming into a silver dragon under the northern polar sky.
"The Faceless Avatar has been in the Olympus Multiverse for only a short time and has already replaced two major gods alongside the Eternal Sun."
"The Sea God and the Sun God… and neither of them are ordinary Olympian gods."
The silver dragon lowered its gaze, contemplating the Faceless Avatar's actions in the Olympus Multiverse.
"If they both remain dormant and don't actively cause trouble, the gods of Olympus might never realize that the Sea God and Sun God have been quietly replaced by gods from another universe."
Garon shook his head slightly.
The Eternal Sun had achieved its objective, but to protect the disguised Poseidon and further enhance the power obtained from Apollo's authority, it remained in the Olympus Multiverse.
"Hmm... Could there be similar external gods in the Great Circle Multiverse?"
Garon suddenly realized this possibility.
Even without the special abilities of the Faceless Avatar, beings like the Eternal Sun could replace a god from the Great Circle Multiverse if their powers were similar or identical.
Garon had no specific answer to this question.
He once again assumed his time-embodied form, meticulously controlling the river of time.
However, elsewhere, an answer to Garon's question existed.
...
The Land of Opposites and Harmonious Unity—Outer Domain, City Beyond City.
At the center of the Outer Domain, the mark city of Infinity Spire welcomed another visitor today.
Unlike the Storm Lord and the Eternal Sun, who lingered outside the city, this visitor did not heed the city's ban on gods and directly entered the mark city.
With a pair of dragon horns on his head and a humanoid face with a gentle, calm smile, exuding a dragon-like aura of inclusiveness, the newcomer was the Nine-faced Dragon God, maintaining a form half-human, half-dragon, without disturbing the ordinary intelligent beings of the Outer Domain.
In the mark city, various races moved about, all oblivious to the Nine-faced Dragon God's presence, even when they brushed past him.
"Mark City, where the gods halt... So it's you, Lord Io. Welcome to Mark City."
The city's ruler, the Lady of Pain, sensed the extraordinary divine power. Her cold, stern voice softened upon realizing it was the Nine-faced Dragon God.
"Lady of Pain, how have you been?"
Io's figure flashed, following the mark city's rules to reach the serene tower in the extra-dimensional space, where the Lady of Pain resided.
Looking at the Nine-faced Dragon God who appeared directly before her, the Lady of Pain's gaze sharpened, then relaxed. She smiled at the Nine-faced Dragon God and said, "I stay within my mark city, avoiding the multiverse's conflicts, so I can't say good or bad, just the usual."
Her response was both an answer to the Nine-faced Dragon God's question and a statement of her harmlessness.
If the Nine-faced Dragon God were unaware of her status as an external god, the Lady of Pain would not believe it, even though she had no direct dealings with him.
Io nodded gently, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. His nine-colored, glass-like eyes seemed to reflect the entire Outer Domain's rules.
He praised, "The Outer Domain itself is special. With your reshaping and forging of the rules, it can overlap with the endless spaces of the Great Circle Multiverse, reaching every corner of it in an instant. This ability is impressive."
Despite Io's smiling demeanor, the Lady of Pain's heart still tightened slightly.
"Lord Io, you're too kind. The main credit goes to the Outer Domain's own uniqueness. On a grander spatial level, the Outer Domain is the axis of the Great Circle."
Since she was an external god, the Lady of Pain didn't want Io to see her as a threat.
The stronger the mark city, the more influence she could have on the Great Circle Multiverse, potentially inviting hostility.
Though the Lady of Pain was powerful within the mark city, she was no match for the Nine-faced Dragon God, who could destroy the city, leaving her helpless.
"No need to be tense. I mean you no harm."
"Otherwise, you wouldn't be standing before me now."
Io said softly, hands clasped behind his back.
"I came to the mark city to formally meet you, an external god, and to locate the coordinates of the Creator's microcosm through the Outer Domain."
Io candidly exposed the Lady of Pain's identity but spoke without malice, his openness and control reassuring her.
Because she truly bore no ill will.
Her original multiverse had been destroyed; the Great Circle Multiverse was her second home, where she had spent more time than in her original universe.
The threat to all multiverses, the ancient multiverse, was intentionally revealed by the Lady of Pain. Though she had personal motives, wishing to use the Great Circle for revenge, she also intended to alert its top beings.
If she were killed as a scheming external god without malice... that would be too much.
"Lord Io, your magnanimity is beyond measure."
"I am deeply grateful for your acceptance of an external god like me."
The Lady of Pain expressed her respect.
"You have spent many years in the Great Circle. How has the pressure from the Great Circle affected you?"
Io suddenly asked.
The Lady of Pain looked helpless, saying, "As always."
The Great Circle's pressure weakened her strength by about forty percent, nearly half.
Don't underestimate this forty percent; it could create a powerful god. In battles among equals, even a ten percent difference could decide the outcome.
Such pressure was linked to the Great Circle's might.
Different multiverses exert varying levels of pressure on external gods; the more complete and vast a multiverse, the stronger its self-defense mechanism, and the greater the pressure on external gods.
"I have a suggestion for you."
"Leave the mark city, explore more planes, more worlds, and measure the Great Circle Multiverse with your own steps."
Io smiled slightly, saying, "You might gain something."
Hearing Io's words, the Lady of Pain was momentarily stunned, then thoughtful.
To personally measure the Great Circle... not just stay in the mark city...
She pondered and said, "This will help me gradually adapt to the Great Circle's pressure?"
"As long as time is long enough and you leave enough traces, you will become a true god, recognized by the Great Circle Multiverse, rather than a pressured external god."
Io explained.
The Lady of Pain's eyes brightened, and she solemnly said, "Thank you for your suggestion. It is very important to me."
Io smiled silently.
After brief contemplation, the Lady of Pain said, "In return, the mark city will no longer be strictly neutral. I am willing to align with the Pantheon, cooperating with the gods to maintain the Great Circle Multiverse's order."
If she could truly become a god of the Great Circle Multiverse, the Lady of Pain would defend it at all costs.
She did not want to repeat the past.
"This is the answer I wanted to hear."
Io nodded gently, saying, "I need to visit Annam's microcosm. You can now try my suggestion."
The Lady of Pain nodded, saying, "I will open the door to the Creator's microcosm for you."
Io shook his head and extended his hand.
His palm transformed into a dragon claw, slicing through space, creating a slit revealing a starry universe with billions of stars against a dark backdrop.
"While talking to you, I already located the microcosm's position through the Outer Domain's rules."
Io stepped into the microcosm, and the slit closed.
In the microcosm, endless stars shone, the galaxy swirled, and countless stars dotted the dark curtain. Some brimming with life, others collapsing in death, all arranged in a peculiar order, reflecting deep, indecipherable information.
A crystal throne stood at the center of the microcosm.
Reflecting countless stars on its surface, the radiant Creator Annam sat on the throne, slowly opening his eyes. Behind him stood the silent Storm Lord.
"Io, welcome."
"What do you think of my microcosm?"
Annam seemed to have foreseen Io's arrival, showing no surprise.
"Using the order of the universe's stars to reflect the multiverse's operating laws... This place is like a second miniature Great Circle. Annam, you have successfully achieved your vision."
Io praised.
Before Io's fall, during his exchanges with the Creator, he learned of Annam's vision.
Annam intended to create a new Great Circle Multiverse, with himself as the sole 'God of Gods,' achieving this status through the growing power of the new multiverse.
Now, it seemed he had partially succeeded.
"The true success is still far away."
Annam smiled slightly.
"As for you, my friend, you were so close to true success. I feel sorry for you."
Annam referred to Io's miraculous combination of splitting his true spirit and integrating with the infinite multiverse, forming the legendary dragon species, especially the Time Dragon.
In Annam's view, it had great potential to become a God of Gods.
Unfortunately, this opportunity should have belonged to Io.
"No, I have truly succeeded."
"My offspring represent me, carrying on my legacy and bloodline. If Garon can achieve the God of Gods status, I will be genuinely proud and pleased."
Io felt no regret.
In Io's view, if he couldn't reach the God of Gods level, but his descendants could and experience that glory on his behalf, it was enough.
"Your magnanimity makes me admire you."
Hearing Io's
response, Annam fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly.
"My friend, aren't you also silently guarding the Great Circle Multiverse? You even neglected communicating with your offspring for this. I have sensed your sacrifices for the Great Circle."
"Your magnanimity and vision surpass mine."
Io smiled, saying, "Not at all. The god system I created is indeed a mess, making you laugh."
"In contrast, the dragon god system you created has become a pillar of the Great Circle Multiverse."
After exchanging mutual praise, Io's gaze swept over the countless stars in the microcosm, asking, "Annam, besides the Lady of Pain, are there other external gods hidden in the Great Circle Multiverse?"
Annam's eyes narrowed, and the stars in the microcosm began to twinkle.
"There is indeed one, who quietly arrived in the Great Circle Multiverse while my attention was on the ancient multiverse."
Few knew that the Creator Annam was not entirely reclusive.
His microcosm could reflect the Great Circle, observing and locking onto external gods invading the Great Circle Multiverse, and to some extent, reducing the external multiverse's awareness of the Great Circle's location.
Since the creation of the microcosm, Annam had been quietly eliminating sneaky external gods, removing threats to the Great Circle.
The Deep Sea Ancient God went undetected because it arrived before the microcosm's creation.
Also, the handling was kept secret because the existence of external gods shouldn't be widely known.
It's not just about the possibility of evil gods betraying and connecting with external gods.
Every acknowledgment of an external god by an intelligent being can act as an anchor point, allowing the external god to locate the Great Circle more easily and descend more simply.
"Since it's not very strong, just an exploratory avatar, I haven't taken action yet, wanting to see if the main body dares to descend."
Annam explained.
Io nodded, saying, "Then let's observe secretly. When the Great Circle Multiverse is fully unified, no external gods will dare invade."
Annam nodded gently, saying, "Unifying the Great Circle is entrusted to your dragon god system. I look forward to it."
He wouldn't leave the microcosm easily, as an absence might allow external gods to descend unnoticed, evading his detection.
With the Storm Lord as a monitoring assistant now, Annam didn't have to handle everything personally, but the Storm Lord wasn't mature enough, providing only minor assistance. Annam still bore the main responsibility.
External god invasions could sometimes be more dangerous than internal conflicts.
The situation in the Olympus Multiverse was a clear example. Without a presence like Annam, Olympus was oblivious to the quiet replacement of two major gods by external entities. The other gods remained unaware, uncertain when they might realize it.
After some time of exchanging insights, Io said to Annam, "I need your help with a small matter."
Annam looked at Io.
"What is it?"
Io pondered, saying, "I'm searching for the Astral Core for Garon Aurelian. However, the astral plane is vast, and the core's location is unstable and hard to pinpoint."
The plane core, or more accurately, the convergence of plane rules, is intangible and ever-shifting, making it difficult to locate.
With the microcosm's abilities, determining the core's position would be easier.
"Understood."
Annam nodded, saying,
He teased Io, "The Time Dragon is already comparable to a powerful god, yet you seem to treat him like a hatchling, personally searching for the Astral Core for him. How does it feel to be a doting father?"
Io smiled slightly, saying, "It's a reward for him as the Champion of Dawn. Besides, as a parent, it's natural to favor and protect one's offspring."
Annam: ...
"Io... Are you suggesting I neglect my offspring?"
"No, you've misunderstood."
Io replied without blinking.
After staying in the microcosm for a while, the Dragon of Creation and the Creator reminisced and discussed the future of the Great Circle Multiverse.
Afterward, Io departed.
"Storm Lord, my child, it's up to you to track the Astral Core's shifting coordinates."
The Storm Lord nodded, understanding this was a test from the Father God.
Though he had accepted his current state, feeling his past self was somewhat laughable, he couldn't help but marvel at the twists of fate, now tasked with finding the Astral Core for his former enemy.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter]